I got a beaver job going and I can't seem to get a smart one here

Never had to resort to shooting before so I don't know best firearm

I have 12 ga 20 ga .223 .270 7.62

What's the best and do you just take the head shot while swimming or land center of mass. Gotta to retrieve to get paid. What're is shallow so finding should be easy. And this is why I can't use drowner very effective here at this spot

22 magnum shooting for fur.
I have killed nuisance beaver equally dead with 12ga,30.06,7.62x39.

It is not so much the firearm as the load. For beaver in this situation, you should choose a 3 inch 12 gauge loaded with lead BB's as the concussion is as important as the "kill". Meaning, as you have to retrieve this animal, the muzzle blast even at distance will stun the animal. This is overlooked far too often in firearm dynamics, but it is a proven fact in warfare.
You want lead shot as steel does not have the energy transfer of lead to put this animal down hard and fast.

Leave the rifles in the pick up.

I would use Dead Coyote Loads.

Thanks, We can't keep fur from ADC animals killed out of fur season and that ended 3/31/16

Which one are you most comfortable shooting? Go with that one because you're probably most accurate with it. They're all capable of doing the job. Personally I'd probably go with the 12ga. The shot won't spread far, but you're putting a lot of dense metal on target.

Cheapest to shoot if you shoot a lot,bout same as a 22mag price wise,but much more effective.

Consider the shot distance, target area and safety risks with the shot.

All firearms have the power to kill a beaver and most air rifles will do just as good a job as well, so instead of debating which firearm to use consider the shot (distance, light conditions, target area, retrieval area, etc.) and safety risks as that will most likely pick the proper tool for you.

It goes without saying,you shouldnt shoot in town,especially a rifle on water.

If I used a rifle it would be your 223 with a varmint load. Less chance of it skipping across the pond and beyond. Would want to be shooting down at it not across. 12 ga with #4 buck and a tight turkey choke, lots of good size pellets, and again shooting down.
just my 2 cents

Kurt Temple

Have shot lots of beaver with a 22 mag. during my years working beaver eradication in Arkansas years ago. You have to get to them fast after shooting them or some can sink on you or they can use the rudder kick with the hide feet as a nerve impulse. I worked mostly river waters and tributaries of the Missouri River.

Always need to be very cautious with shooting any rifle at water level shots as was stated. I found the 22 mag to be a very good caliber for our night shooting work. Most of our work was done on wildlife refuge ground with little to no structures in our working areas.

Have backed off on the shooting in the past few years, haven't had much occasion to need it, but used to enjoy the night hunting in the younger days. Loved sweating, waiting and getting chewed up by bugs. Most of the shooting, especially at night, is pretty close range. Have had them really close, nearly close enough to touch at times and missed because of the parallax with a rifle. Hard to make yourself hold high off target at 15 feet. A .22 Ruger with Bull barrel, thumb hole stock worked just fine, steady, accurate. Preferred to shoot them coming or going but took a lot of them by waiting for them to swim into the crosshairs from the side too. The .22 is quiet and will kill with a head shot. Used hollow points. The Midway Barrel liked both CCI mini mags and snappy velocitors that travel at 1435. Have not had a reason to shoot much lately. Concentrated more on catching them so I could be home at night with sets made for wised up beaver. I used to bring the rifle to take a beaver or two when setting if I saw them also, but now would likely not waste the energy to walk back to the truck to get the rifle, even if I had it with me. Quicker just to set and catch. The reason for the .22 was to have something I could use in or near suburbia without causing a big scene. Rather go unnoticed. If the wind and homes are at your back, you can shoot in a front yard undetected when but yards away from houses. Some of the smartest beaver are 2 to 5 a.m., too early for me to get up and I don't want to stay up that late either waiting for what could be hours.

If you pop them you will get sinkers and floaters. Some will "torpedo" while others just drop and sink. If you nose shoot one you will know it as they can not go under and will go to the bank. In the warm weather, hot water, a sinker will float in a few minutes so its worth hanging in there and waiting for them to pop back up at times. In cold weather they may never come up. Used to shoot them in summer and come back the next day too to have them floating and easy to find. Though I found most, there were some never to be seen again, though I know they were deceased.

If you go with the rifle, use hollow points, as they will likely fragment without skipping off into the sunset.

I have to second the 12ga. and buckshot w/turkey choke. Its also recommended that if you use a single projectile you should shoot at a 45 degree angle, this will lower the chance of pond skippers. I'll use a tree stand in some locations and .22 long rifle scoped.
Don LaFountain

Agree, the steeper the angle the better. One location I recall already had a tree stand in place, which was a plus, made it easy, 30 feet up. It was beaver #13. He got pretty spooky when the other 12 were MIA. He just came up slowly tight to the lodge, didn't move a muscle, winding, listening. Doubt he heard the shot. Used to bring a ladder with me which made a quick set up. I used a big step ladder I could set up anywhere, the taller the better.

All of the above will work ( but I wouldn't recommend an air rifle ) I use a scoped Ruger 10-22 shooting CCI mini mag solid points. I want good penetration. Remember the hide is as thick as a deer. I also use a 12 ga shooting #4 buckshot ( NOT #4 bird shot ) I want to make that clear.
Like others have said , be very , very careful about rifle bullets skipping off the water.
I take a Thermacell for mosquitoes in warm weather, and a good lawn chair.
Also use the wind to your favor. Stay down wind. A educated beaver will smell you and most times avoid you if you are upwind.
And last DOUBLE TAP on EVERY beaver you shoot.
Good luck !

x2 on the multiple shots with smaller calibres.Not needed with high power.

Ditto on beaver winding. They surely have a great nose and excellent hearing. A whiff of human or the sound of a small stick breaking will take them back into the water in a second if they are on the bank and get them circling and splashing, if you are lucky. The smartest make no sound whatsoever, but simply roll under slowly and disappear for the night, frustrating if you have been sitting for extended periods. They have no eyesight. If you stand down wind without moving they may come up within a few feet. Don't know what others have found, but subsonics in .22 still do the trick and also seem to result in more floaters than sinkers. Creatures of habit, they often come out at the same time each day for periods of time, predictable.

The double tap is a good practice. Have done myself, just forget a lot as it has been a while since I have done any shooting. At times when a beaver was on the bank I have double and triple shot just to make sure there was enough to put him down, especially when shooting through brush. The fur isn't worth much even in season and the job is what is important, so a deceased beaver is what is required. The semi makes it easy to put an extra round or two in place. All this talk about shooing, might have to plan an outing.

I used a scoped 243 last year. It worked really well. Wait till they climb out, center mass. Boom. Even if they were right on the edge of the water, they'd drop.

Trying a 22 mag this year